Ivandoe staggered, his breathing uneven, vision blurred by exhaustion.
"If only I had known…" he muttered, frustration laced in his voice.
"I would've taken more Chrono Berries back in Ruin's Forest…"
A faint chuckle broke through the tension.
Lucas stepped forward.
Calm. Composed.
"I've got something better."
The team looked up.
"My Hyperbook ability—Eclipse Revival."
A faint, dark-gold aura flickered around him.
"It won't win the fight for you…" he added, eyes sharp.
"But it'll give you one more chance."
Aria frowned. "Wait… you had this the whole time?"
Lucas shrugged slightly.
"I wanted to see how far you'd push yourselves first."
Jax scoffed. "Man… you really pick your moments."
Lucas smirked.
"Only when it matters."
He raised his hand.
"Eclipse Revival… activate."
Light didn't explode outward—
It folded.
Dark and gold energy intertwined, wrapping around the team like a pulse of restored time itself.
Ivandoe felt it instantly—
Strength returning.
Pain fading.
Focus sharpening.
His vision flickered—
PARADOX SYSTEM
STATUS PARTIALLY RESTORED
Health: 78%
Energy: 65%
Mana: 72%
His eyes narrowed.
"Not full…"
Lucas exhaled slowly.
"Didn't say it was perfect."
The others checked theirs—
Better.
But not safe.
Narissa clenched her fist, energy crackling faintly again. "It's enough."
Jax rolled his shoulders. "Yeah… I can move again."
But across the chamber—
Thantos stood unmoved.
Watching.
Then—
It laughed.
"You think… this changes anything?"
Darkness surged violently from its body, swallowing the remaining light in the chamber.
"I am the Devourer of Light."
Its gaze locked onto them.
"And you… are merely delaying your end."
It raised its hand—
Power condensed.
But then it paused.
A shift in tone.
"Surrender."
The word echoed.
"Give me the Keystone… and I may allow you to live."
Silence.
Then—
Ivandoe stepped forward.
His grip tightened.
"We're done listening to you."
His voice dropped—firm, unshaken.
"We're not giving you anything."
For a moment—
Nothing moved.
Then Thantos smiled.
"Then break."
It vanished.
Impact.
The ground shattered beneath Jax as he barely blocked the strike.
"IT'S FASTER—!"
Aria reacted instantly, soundwaves bursting outward to disrupt its movement.
"Now!"
Narissa dashed in—
Faster than before.
This time—
Ivandoe moved with her.
Their attacks aligned—
Blade and light crossing in perfect sync.
They struck—
Direct hit.
A crack—
This time deeper.
Thantos staggered.
For the first time—
It reacted.
Ivandoe's eyes widened.
"…We can hurt it."
Behind him, Lucas watched quietly.
His breathing heavy.
Mana: 12%
He stepped back slightly.
"I've done my part…"
His Hyperbook flickered—
A message.
Urgent.
From the castle.
His expression changed.
"…No."
Ivandoe glanced back. "What is it?"
Lucas clenched his fist.
"They're under attack. Worse than we thought."
Silence.
Decision.
He exhaled.
"I have to go."
Narissa frowned. "Now?"
Lucas nodded.
"If they fall… none of this matters."
He raised his hand—space tearing open as a portal formed behind him.
Before stepping through—
He turned to Ivandoe.
"The Keystone…"
His gaze sharpened.
"It's reacting to you."
Ivandoe froze.
"Don't ignore that."
Lucas stepped closer.
"Protect it. And trust yourself."
A pause.
Then—
He stepped back.
"I'll be back."
The portal swallowed him.
Gone.
The chamber fell silent once more.
Then—
Thantos laughed.
"You send away your strongest…"
Its voice darkened.
"…and expect to win?"
Ivandoe stepped forward.
Slowly.
Calmly.
"Yeah."
His eyes burned with something new.
"Because we're not the same as before."
The Keystone pulsed faintly at his side.
The air shifted.
The team regrouped.
And this time—
They didn't hesitate.
They charged.
And for the first time—
the light fought back.